ARTICLE I. NAME
ARTICLE II. PURPOSE-County Greens & Council
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
ARTICLE IV. COUNTY COUNCIL-Membership/ alternates/ resign/ recall
ARTICLE V. GENERAL MEETINGS-Council/ general membership/ decision-making
ARTICLE VI. PROCESS OF DECISION-MAKING
ARTICLE VII. DELEGATE SELECTION TO GPCA ASSEMBLY
ARTICLE VIII. AMENDMENTS
The name of this organization is the Sacramento County Green Party (County Greens). The administrative body of the County Greens is the Sacramento County Green Party Council (County Council).
1.01 The purpose of the County Greens is to further the following ten key values through political and social action:
1.02 These bylaws govern the organization, operation, and function of the Sacramento County Green Party and the Sacramento County Green Party Council.
2.01 The County Council will administer the County Greens according to these bylaws. In the event of an omission or ambiguity in these bylaws, the County Greens will look to the bylaws of the Green Party of California for guidance.
2.02 The County Council is accountable to the membership of the County Greens and must enact all decisions reached in accordance with these bylaws.
Members are: all persons residing in Sacramento County with a current and valid registration in the Green Party of California and those persons who would independently choose to register Green if they were legally able to do so.
1.01 The County Council will serve as the elected representative body of the County Greens. The County Council's mission is to contribute to the ongoing empowerment of the members of the County Greens so that they may continue their work. The County Council will serve to promote the ten key values in all its actions and statements.
1.02 The County Council shall fill the role served by the County Central Committees pursuant to Division 7 of the California Election Code.
2.01 The County Council will be comprised of seven voting members elected in a county-wide, at-large district during the direct primary election held by the State of California in even years.
2.02 The County Greens may choose to modify the method of selection or size of The County Council by modifying these bylaws. The County Council will notify the Green Party of California Coordinating Committee of such changes no later than 150 days before the direct primary election. The County Greens wish to use Instant Run-off Voting as the means of selecting its County Council and will work to make this possible in primary elections.
2.03 County Council members will serve from when the County Council convenes its first meeting after a State primary election until the next primary election for a two year term.
2.04 A County Council member may appoint an alternate in her/his absence. Alternates shall have full consensus and voting rights only with the written authorization of their appointing Council member. Such authorization may be provided upon the absentee's return. An alternate member shall be subject to the rules of The County Council and may vote only while the elected member is absent.
2.05 A Council member automatically resigns if s/he:
2.06 If a vacancy occurs on The County Council, The County Council will notify the general membership (those members who expressed an interest or those who can reasonably be notified within the County Council's budget) of this and nominations will be accepted at the next General Meeting. At that time, the elected Council members will appoint the nominee(s) who receive(s) a majority (50% plus one) of votes by means of Instant Run-off Voting (where candidates are rated in order of preference by each voter. If no one receives a majority of first preference votes, then the nominee with the fewest votes is taken off the ballot, and second preference votes from the eliminated candidate's ballots are distributed to the remaining candidates. This continues until a candidate receives a majority of votes and until all vacancies are filled.)The County Council will notify the Green Party of California Coordinating Committee and County Election officials of the appointment within five days.
2.07 A sitting council member can be recalled if:
3.01 The duties and powers of The County Council are:
3.02 The County Council shall use the consensus process for decision making. The County Council may, however, establish its own rules of procedure subject to these by laws (such as creation of officers, agenda, etc.). All Council meetings shall be open to any member of the County Greens, who may participate in discussion and the consensus process, but only members of The County Council may vote, unless The County Council chooses otherwise.
3.03 A quorum of The County Council shall be 2/3 of the current members of The County Council, rounded down to the nearest whole number.
3.04 The County Council may delegate any of its duties and powers to committees. These committees may contain non-council members who are County Green members, but they shall remain responsible to the County Council.
4.01 The County Council shall hold regular monthly meetings (except July and August), as announced at general membership meetings, and additional meetings whenever necessary.
4.02 Council meetings shall be open to observation and participation of all County Green members, except that only Council members shall have full consensus and voting powers. The County Council may impose reasonable time limits.
1.01 The General Meeting of the County Greens may override or veto any decision of the County Council.
1.02 The County Council shall schedule two general meetings per year. The County Council may call additional meetings whenever necessary, as long as reasonable notice is given to all current County Green members who have attended at least one general meeting, with priority given to more recent meetings.
1.03 General Meetings shall be open to the public, and participation of all Green registrants shall be encouraged, except that only County Green members shall have full consensus and voting powers. The County Council shall maintain a sign-up list for meeting attendance.
1.04 At the beginning of each meeting, The General Meeting shall approve of a Facilitator, Note-taker/Scribe, and Time-Keeper. The County Council is encouraged to rotate these roles among the general membership.
1.05 All County Green members shall have power to participate in decision-making at general meetings.
The County Greens at a County Council meeting or at a General meeting if timely shall send a team of County Green members (delegates) to statewide meetings of the GPOC. These delegates shall be elected by plurality. Before each meeting, The County Council shall provide the GPOC Coordinating Committee and the state Hosting Committee with the names of team members representing the County Greens' delegate votes. If a vote needs to be taken at the statewide meeting, the team will caucus to decide how to use the allotted votes and will vote accordingly.
The County Council shall make sure that all delegate team members receive an orientation regarding GPOC meetings, structure, process and bylaws. Attendance at an orientation is a prerequisite to membership on the delegate team.
These bylaws may be amended through the following process:
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